barrenness, in opposition to fertility. It has been asserted by many authors, that all monsters produced by a mixture of different species of animals, such as mules, are barren; but this does not hold universally, even with the mule, which is the instance most generally adduced. See Mule.

Sterility in women sometimes happens from a miscarriage, or violent labour injuring some of the genital parts; but one of the most frequent causes is the suppression of the menstrual flux.—There are other causes arising from various diseases incident to those parts; by which the uterus may be unfit to receive or retain the male seed;—from the tubes fallopian being too short, or having lost their erectile power; in either of which cases no conception can take place—from universal debility and relaxation; or a local debility of the genital system; by which means, the parts having lost their tone or contractile power, the semen is thrown off immediately post coitum;—from imperforation of the vagina, the uterus, or the tube, or from diseased ovaries, &c. Hence medical treatment can only avail in cases arising from topical or universal debility; in correcting irregularities of the menstrual flux, or in removing tumors, cicatrices, or constrictions of the passage, by the art of surgery.